Vibratory health apparatus



Oct. 8, 1929. H. E. RILEY 8 VIBRATORY HEALTH APPARATUS Filgd Nov. 10, 1928 Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE HERBERT E. RILEY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR '10 'rowER MANUFAC- TUBING CORPORATION, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSA -i CHUSETTS VIBRATORY HEALTH APPARATUS Application filed. November 10, 1928. Serial No. 318,513.

The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for imparting a vibratory massage to selected portions of the human body.

The beneficial effect of a vibratory massage is now well recognized by leading scientific and medical men who have had opportunity for observation of the results secured thereby. However, this type of massage as practicedwith apparatus now available, fails of accomplishment in the fullest sense, as the belt or equivalent device commonly used con tacts only with a limited and strictly localized portion of the body, and in consequence the desired massaging effect is confined to a single muscle or group of muscles lying within a relatively small and definitely localized region. g

It is of major importance in apparatus of this character that the massaging effect shall be simultaneously imparted to related groups of muscles interacting with one another, but conceivably disposed at points too remote to successfully permit the employment of the present form of apparatus.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple form of vibratory apparatus which shall permit the simultaneous massaging of different portions of the body removed from one another, in a manner to provide the necessary and desirable stimulation to related groups of muscles and glands, even though not lying in a localized region.

With this and other objects in view, the various features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred formof the invention, Fig. 1 represents a partial diagrammatic view of the improved form of vibratory belt employed in conjunction with the orthodox or usual type of belt; Fig. 2 is a view illustrating an alternative method of using the improved belt; Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a second alternative method; Fig. 4 is a view conjunction with such a belt.

illustrating the use of the belt in simultaneously massaging the two leg muscles; and Fig. 5 is a view of the improved form of belt as attachedto the reciprocating members of a vibratory apparatus.

The improved form of vibratory belt v shown in the illustratedembodiment of the invention is preferably employed in connection with a vibratory apparatus of the type disclosed in the copending.application filed by Harry R. Holbrook, Serial No. 293,811, filed July 19, 1928, to which reference is made by permission. It is understood, however, that the present form of belt is equally well adapted for application to other vibrating mechanisms, and that providing the amount and period of the vibration is correctly predetermined, the beneficial results will be the same.

The belt shown in the illustrated embodii rate loops are so designed that they may be passed about different portions of the body either in a separated or crossed relationship, employed separately in the manner of the usual and orthodox belt, or conceivably in Due to the flexibility of this construction and the novel characteristicsof the belt, a variety of combinations may be attained which permit effective massage of all portions of the body desirably submitted to such treatment.

As illustrated more particularly in Fig. 5,

my improved belt comprises a relatively narrow loop 10, with a cooperating loop 12, the

loops being interconnected at their free ends 14: and 16, which are provided with the usual connections for attachment to the hooks 18 and 20 of a vibratory apparatus. Each of the loops has provision for independent adjustment by virtue of buckles 22 and 24 arranged adjacent the connected ends of the loops and removed from that portion of the loop in contact with the body. It will be evi dent, furthermore, from the disclosure in Fig. 5, that the complementary loops cross one another at their working portions, the loop 10, for example, being connected inside of the loop 12 at the free end 14, and outside of the loop 12 at the free end 16. With this construction, positioning of the loops in an intersecting relationship in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is facilitated. In such a relationship, effective and adequate massage of inter-related and co-acting groups of back muscles, or reduction of adipose tissue throughout the back and buttocks, may be effected.

As contrasted with this, the two loops may be effectively used in the manner shown in Fig. 1, in which one loop is passed about the neck above the shoulders, and the second or complementary loop about the small portion of the back between the shoulders and the thigh. In this figure, also, my improved belt is shown used in combination with a belt 25 of the orthodox type,'the wide or orthodox belt in this case being passed around the thighs. Due to the simultaneous and active massage exerted by the belts in this manner, desirable stimulation is secured. Such stimulation is eflective not only for the breaking down andemlimination of excess adipose tissue, but in addition stimulates the activity of certain of the glands, increases metabolism, lympathic and venous circulation, and the functional activities of the organisms in a manner which cannot be effectively accomplished with existing apparatus. Obviously the period and extent of vibration may be adjusted as desired, together with the eiiective length of the individual loops. I

Fig. 4 illustrates another use of the improved apparatus in which the belts are separately employed for simultaneously massaging the leg muscles of the operator.

What is claimed is: i I

1. Vibratorymassage apparatus comprising a plurality of loops of flexible material interconnected at their free ends and designed to be independently passed about thebody of a patient in either intersecting or separated relationship to engage and massageselected portions of the body removed from one another, the free ends of the connected loops being adapted for attachment to a virbrating mechanism. 7

2. Vibratory massage apparatus comprising a plurality of loops of flexible material interconnected at their free ends with the inner loop atone connected end crossing between the ends and becoming the outer loop at the opposite connected end, the loops extending in the same general direction from the connecting ends to facilitate simultaneous application to the body of a patient in either intersecting or separated relationship, the free ends of the loops being adapted for connection to a vibratory apparatus.

HERBERT E. RILEY. 

